For my fellow agnostic/atheist friends. Question?

Question

Do you support assisted suicide to those who choose to die a dignified and pain free death? I'm not talking about people who are depressed. I mean for those of us who are basically at the end of meaningful life. I see no nobility in suffering to death when the end can come peacefully and painlessly. What do you think? Please...I'm asking ONLY my fellow agnostic/atheists!

Answer 1

I think there would have to be certain qualifying criteria (I know, qualifying to die, how weird), but yes.

Answer 2

I know you said you are only asking athiests or agnostics, but I felt like answering, too.

I'm a Christian and I FULLY support assisted suicide. Just because I believe in God doesn't mean I believe in everything the bible says. In fact, I don't agree with very much of what the Bible says at all.

My mother is very ill and is suffering. Because of her condition, she is literally starving to death and there's no way to help her. She's wasting away in a hospital room in pain. If it were legal, I would sign whatever necessary to give her a shot of something that would put her to sleep and end the misery.

I don't think people should commit suicide just because they're depressed- there are cures for depression. If there's a cure for the ailment, then by no means should you take this way out- but if there is no cure- and all you're doing is suffering- I see no harm in it.

Answer 3

I live with chronic pain. Not so bad that I would choose to die, but some days I can understand why someone would, especially if they had a terminal illness.

I also know how difficult the lack of control over one's own body can be. And the endlessness of the pain. Knowing that there's an off-switch that COULD be used can be enough to help someone through another day.

It should be an individual choice. If we're compassionate and intelligent about this, as a society we can come up with safeguards and still allow people these decisions.

Answer 4

Your right! Where is the dignity in dying with a diaper on or hooked up to a machine drooling on yourself? We have animal rights that allow us to end their life peacefully. Why not humans? We kill convicted murderer's, but not an honest man who has lived a good life? So yes I support an assisted death. I just don't consider it suicide.

Answer 5

Forgive me but I must weigh in on behalf of the Christian community. Four years ago, my brother died of pancreatic cancer. This is one of the most painful types and a painful death. Morphine hardly cuts it and he was a tough guy. He was almost 40 and in six months he was gone. Never did I see his faith in God falter. Never did he try to take matters in his own hands. Every time I saw him, every breath he breathed was precious and every moment we had left was a blessing to me and we exchanged "I love you's" again. (not formerly mushy!) I thank God for his example. He believed God could heal him, could raise him from the dead, could keep him from feeling the pain and although none of those things happened, he remained true and did not question God or become his own god and try to take control. He knew that God would hold his hand in the valley of the shadow of death. On video I have him saying "I'm not afraid to die because once I'm through the painful physical part, I know where I'm going." Like Job who said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" because he knew he would see God again. God blessed him many times during his illness and he had periodds of temporary relief. While praying for him close to the last, my sister-in-law recieved the in-filling of the Holy-Ghost which has been a strength and comfort to her in raising their adopted son. I, not a Christian at the time, was so affected by his love and steadfast faith in God, I was able to come back to God and let Him heal my bitterness from being abused. People, you have to know, life is precious, heaven is real, God is good, and it pays to put your trust in Him and not take matters into your own hands.
Please don't trample these pearls underfoot!!

Answer 6

I agree. I think the problem is finding where the line can be drawn as you are bound to find people who will abuse the concept.

I personally think that some people have no reason to live and would rather go their own way than suffer. I've seen this happen twice first hand and I can assure you that theres nothing noble in a 'natural' death.

Answer 7

The reason that I don't agree with it is because life should only end when it is supposed to end. Pain sucks. I would hate to live a life in excruciating pain. If I were able to end it on my own then good. Should I ask someone to end it for me? I don't believe that it is my place to ask that of anyone else. If someone asked me to do it I would not do it because they may have changed their mind at the last minute.

I wouldn't stop anyone else from doing it though.

Answer 8

Yes. I lived in Europe for a number of years, where it is quite acceptable in general. It must be a matter of personal choice, I believe, when one truly feels that one has suffered enough and wishes to die with dignity and in peace. In Holland, I believe two separate doctors must agree that there is no hope of a cure or of an increased quality of life, before they will assist in ending your life.

Answer 9

Its humorous how ones innovations could be so confident approximately their faith (no remember agnostic, atheist, or theist) that they sense they are good. needless to say the atheist who's so confident of themselves needs to transform people who "dont comprehend". the comparable is going for the theist desirous to transform people who "dont comprehend" etc, Its human nature. people who're confident of themselves shouldn't sense undesirable that they are attempting to open peoples eyes. purely like I dont sense undesirable approximately attempting to do the comparable. i think Im good, purely such as you sense your good. I dont element God or no God will carry lack of expertise against a human race thats surrounded with the aid of it. Its nonetheless as much as that individual to make the alternative, its no longer as once you're making the alternative for them. I admire that your agnostic, purely like i wish you admire that Im christian, its while people seem down on eachother as though all people has the slightest clue to the organic vastness and greatness of this universe and previous that bugs me. At this ingredient Ive desperate their is a God, in actuality Im one hundred% confident there is one, yet I probably comprehend .00000000001% of what that's.

Answer 10

Yes, atheist here and I support it.

Furthermore, the "test run" it's had in Oregon has been successful and proven it to be an ethical law. By "successful" I mean that the main complaint that people who are against the law (people bumping off rich relatives) hasn't happened in ONE of the cases.

I think we should treat people with all the courtesy with which we treat dying cats and dogs.

Answer 11

I am an Atheist and I support assisted suicide for anyone whosoever. Especially Agnostics who by the way are not my friends. I have lots of Christian friends but I could never trust an Agnostic. xx